A central figure in the South County schools corruption case has pleaded guilty to two felony charges of conspiracy to bribe officials and board members.

Gary Allen Cabello, who worked for two firms that together participated in underwriting almost $350 million in bond offerings for both Southwestern Community College District and Sweetwater Union High School District, entered the plea at a court hearing on Friday, according to a court clerk and the prosecutor on the case.

Cabello, 55, is a key player in the case against 15 current and former officials of the district as well as contractors. The sweeping indictment against the defendants contends that the officials got meals, trips, gifts and tickets to sporting events from businesses who wanted in return to be selected for work on the bond issues.

Cabello’s firm worked on bonds for both districts. Prosecutors said that in 2006 and 2007 alone he spent more than $7,500 on entertainment for Sweetwater officials, who were then weighing which firms would underwrite $644 million in bonds.

Cabello is not the first figure ensnared in the probe to plead guilty.

Henry Amigable, a construction services executive, pleaded guilty last year to a misdemeanor charge of offering a thing of value to a school board member. He agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the case. Construction executive Rene Flores and architect Paul Bunton have also pleaded to misdemeanors in the case. Both are cooperating with prosecutors.

Deputy District Attorney Leon Schorr said there is no deal for cooperation from Cabello, who he called “an important player” in the case.

“If he’s called to testify we’re expecting he will do so truthfully,” Schorr said.

The lawyer for Cabello did not respond to messages and an email requesting a comment.